If you want longer battery life, adjustable EQ, and an app for teens, choose JLab Go Air Pop+; if you need stronger water resistance and a way to track misplaced earbuds, choose Skullcandy Sesh Evo in-Ear.
Both are in-ear wireless earbuds with solo-use options, but their battery figures, water-resistance ratings, and extra features point to different routines.
JLab Go Air Pop+ vs Skullcandy Sesh Evo in-Ear at a Glance
• JLab Go Air Pop+ strength: 35+ hours of total playtime, three EQ choices, app controls, and three gel-tip sizes. Trade-off: its IPX4 rating covers sweat and light rain, not the higher level of water resistance offered by Skullcandy.
• Skullcandy Sesh Evo in-Ear strength: IP55 water resistance and Tile tracking for misplaced earbuds. Trade-off: its stated total battery life is 24 hours, with up to five hours in the earbuds per charge.
• JLab Go Air Pop+ is for: teens or everyday listeners who value longer listening time, sound options, and an app.
• Skullcandy Sesh Evo in-Ear is for: listeners who prioritize extra water resistance and a built-in way to help locate an earbud.
The JLab’s strongest practical case is battery life. Each earbud is specified for 9+ hours, and the charging case adds 26+ hours, for 35+ hours total. That gives a teen who uses earbuds for school, a commute, and time at home more room between charging sessions. The case has an integrated USB-C charging cable, and the product description says a 10-minute charge can provide an hour of playtime.
The three EQ options—Signature, Bass Boost, and Balanced—let listeners choose a sound profile rather than stick with one preset. JLab’s app adds ways to adjust EQ and manage touch controls. Bluetooth 5.3 supports connections to iOS, Android, and PC, while Dual Connect allows either earbud to work on its own. That can be useful for a call when a listener wants to keep one ear free. Each bud has a MEMS microphone, and voice assistant access is included.
JLab includes three gel-tip sizes, which gives buyers some choice in fit. The earbuds are described as 15% smaller than the previous generation, and the IPX4 rating is intended for sweat and light rain. Those details make them a reasonable option for everyday wear and workouts, though they do not match the Sesh Evo’s IP55 rating. Who should skip it: someone who puts a higher priority on water resistance or locating a misplaced earbud than on longer battery life and EQ choices.
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-22 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
Skullcandy Sesh Evo in-Ear: Who It's For
The Sesh Evo’s most distinctive extras are its IP55 rating and Tile tracking. The water-resistance rating makes it the more compelling choice of these two for a listener who expects sweaty workouts or light rain. Tile technology, used through the Tile app, can help track down either earbud if it gets misplaced. That feature may matter in a busy household or for a teen who often moves between school, activities, and home.
Its battery setup is specified as five hours in the earbuds and 19 additional hours in the case, for 24 hours total. A 10-minute rapid charge is stated to add two hours of listening time. Solo mode lets either earbud be used separately for calls or listening, giving it a practical one-bud option too. The earbuds connect through Bluetooth 5, and the product includes a one-year US warranty.
The clear compromise is battery life: the listed total is 11 hours below the JLab’s 35+ hours, and the Sesh Evo’s earbuds are specified for up to five hours before returning to the case. The provided details also do not list EQ presets or app-based sound adjustment like JLab’s. Who should skip it: someone who wants the longer stated battery life, multiple EQ profiles, or the app controls described for the JLab.
• Best for water resistance → Skullcandy Sesh Evo in-Ear. Its IP55 rating is higher than the JLab’s IPX4 rating. That makes Skullcandy the more suitable pick of these two for sweaty workouts or light rain.
• Best for sound-profile choices → JLab Go Air Pop+. Its Signature, Bass Boost, and Balanced EQ options let listeners switch between three profiles, with additional EQ adjustments available in the JLab app.
• Best for locating a misplaced earbud → Skullcandy Sesh Evo in-Ear. Tile tracking can help a listener find either bud through the Tile app. The provided JLab details do not list a comparable finding feature.
• Best for one-ear listening → Both. JLab’s Dual Connect and Skullcandy’s solo mode each allow either earbud to be used independently.
• Best for a choice of included tip sizes → JLab Go Air Pop+. It comes with three gel-tip sizes, which may help a buyer find a more secure fit.
• Best for app-based control adjustments → JLab Go Air Pop+. Its app can adjust EQ settings and manage touch controls. The supplied Sesh Evo details do not describe an equivalent app-control feature.
• Best fit for a teen who might misplace earbuds → Skullcandy Sesh Evo in-Ear. Tile tracking is a useful distinction if finding a lost bud matters more than maximizing battery life.
Think about how the earbuds will be used most often, not just which feature sounds more impressive on paper. For long stretches of listening between chances to recharge, the JLab’s longer stated battery life is the important difference. For workouts or time outdoors in light rain, Skullcandy’s IP55 rating gives it the stronger water-resistance specification. Neither rating means the earbuds should be treated as suitable for submersion.
Fit is personal, and the specifications cannot guarantee that either pair will feel right in every ear. JLab includes three gel-tip sizes, so its package gives buyers a few options for adjusting the fit. The supplied Sesh Evo details do not specify multiple tip sizes, so I would not assume the same selection is included.
There are also different kinds of convenience here. JLab combines app-based EQ and touch-control adjustments with a pocketable charging case described as smaller than a credit card. Skullcandy’s standout convenience feature is Tile tracking, which may be more valuable than EQ controls for someone who tends to misplace small items. If you are also browsing an open ear headphones gift for teens or an ear clip headphones gift for teens, note that these two products are in-ear designs, not open-ear or ear-clip styles. They are also not described as sleep headphones, so someone seeking a sleep headphones gift for teens should check the intended design and fit before choosing either pair.
If the decision comes down to what each product does not provide, the trade-offs are straightforward. JLab has the longer battery specification and more detailed sound customization, but a lower water-resistance rating and no listed Tile tracking. Skullcandy has the higher water-resistance rating and Tile, but less total stated playtime. If a price comparison matters to your decision, check the current price on Amazon rather than relying on a figure here.
For teens, I would choose the JLab Go Air Pop+ for its 35+ hours of stated total playtime, three EQ profiles, and app controls.
It also offers independent-earbud use and three gel-tip sizes, making it a flexible everyday option on the specifications provided.
I would choose the Skullcandy instead if IP55 water resistance and Tile tracking are the priorities.
For my all-around pick between these two, the JLab’s longer battery life and sound options carry more weight.
FAQ
The Sesh Evo has the higher stated water-resistance rating at IP55, compared with IPX4 for the JLab. JLab is described as resistant to sweat and light rain; Skullcandy is the stronger choice on this specification for sweaty activities.
Yes. JLab’s Dual Connect lets you use either earbud independently, and Skullcandy’s solo mode also supports separate use of either bud. Both can suit a call or listening session when you want to leave one ear free.
The Skullcandy Sesh Evo includes Tile tracking, which can help locate either earbud through the Tile app. The JLab details provided do not list a comparable tracking feature.
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